Friday, July 24, 2009

Time is up! $30,000 diamond ring goes unclaimed

Fullerton police display the property envelope containing a diamond ring appraised at $30,000. The jewelry is kept in a property room safe. Police would not allow a picture of the ring.

BARBARA GIASONE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Fullerton police confer with city attorney to see if finder or property owner should get the gem.

FULLERTON – Police waited the mandatory four months to see if anyone would claim a 2.5-carat diamond ring found on a local school playground.

As of the deadline date Tuesday, there were no takers for the gem, appraised at $30,000, Sgt. Mike MacDonald said Thursday.

According to law, if no one responds within the required time period, it's "finders, keepers" for anything valued more than $250.

"We're planning to send a letter to the finder, but first we want to check with the city attorney to determine who should get the ring, the finder or the property owner," MacDonald said.

The ring had one identifying mark that only the owner would know, said April Baughman, who oversees the Police Department property room where unclaimed jewelry is kept in a safe.